B Mountain Star moving forward

The Ridgecrest's Exchange Club's push to raise funds for the restoration of the “B” Mountain's lighted star monument received a huge boost in the right direction.

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By Jack Barnwelljbarnwell@ridgecrestca.com

Ridgecrest Daily Independent - Ridgecrest, CA

By Jack Barnwelljbarnwell@ridgecrestca.com

Posted Dec. 8, 2012 at 1:00 PM

By Jack Barnwelljbarnwell@ridgecrestca.com

Posted Dec. 8, 2012 at 1:00 PM

The Ridgecrest's Exchange Club's push to raise funds for the restoration of the "B" Mountain Star lighted monument received a huge boost in the right direction.

Two contractors have agreed to contribute $50,000 in materials and labor for the monument's initial refurbishment.

The two contractors are Bob Dickson of RED Electric in Ridgecrest and Darryl Grace of South Bay Electric.

The star project's last repair, according to a news release circulated by Exchange Club's B Mountain Star Chair George "Andy" Anderson, was in 1993.

The "B" Mountain Star was initially built in the 1940s and over the years, weather conditions have eroded the structure and damaged the wiring.

The increasing erosion has led to less occasions that the light has been lighted up. The last time was in 2011 for four days to celebrate the Christmas holiday.

Boy Scout Aaron McCain and a group of fellow scouts began pitching in, heavily contributing to the site's clean-up and installing some of the new lighting fixtures.

In addition to the donation from the two engineering companies, the Exchange Club has pushed the fund raising effort beginning with its own $2,000 donation to kick start the effort.

In addition to a generous $10,000 and two $500 donations, the service organization has also set up "Star" donation jars at various businesses in the city.

Patti Jeglum, the Exchange Club's secretary, estimated the club has raised nearly $19,000 in donations.

Jeglum's family has been involved historically with the B Mountain Star. Her grandfather Joseph Olson, who worked on the naval base as an electrician, was responsible maintaining the star.

In addition, the club is establishing to different funding sources to help future maintenance of what many Ridgecrest residents consider a local icon.

"We now intend to run an annual repair fund drive to ensure we have money for the repairs the following year," Anderson noted in his news release. "The second will be an investment fund for the eventual replacement of the star in 20 to 25 years."

Anderson said Friday the annual repair fund would raise revenue for the monument's year-to-year maintenance. The other plan would see a large amount "that will mature for around 20 years for when the monument needs to be replaced."

The original plan for the star's replacement was to change out traditional light bulbs with more energy efficient LED lights, but Anderson said the idea proved too expensive.

"Instead the light bulbs will be replaced with florence light bulbs that are legal in California," Anderson said.

Both Jeglum and Anderson have indicated both companies wish to remain involved in the project after this year.

Anderson said the $50,000 donation from RED Electric and South Bay Electric was extremely generous.

"It was a surprise to us all," Anderson said. "It reminds me that the people of this town are great."